Natural Materials Technology – research and personnel

Research at the Laboratory of Natural Materials Technology focuses on the development and sustainable utilization of biomass-derived materials for innovative products and industrial processes. Our research combines fundamental understanding of natural materials with applied research aimed at developing resource-efficient, renewable, and high-performance material solutions.

The laboratory’s research addresses both established and emerging applications of forest-based and other renewable raw materials, with particular emphasis on material functionality, processing, and sustainability.

Our main research areas include:

• Biomass fractionation and molecular characterization
• Bioproduct chemistry and biomass-derived polymers
• Sustainable and functional materials
• Fiber, pulping, and papermaking technology
• Packaging, barrier coatings, and surface functionalization

Education is an integral part of our activities within the Chemical and Process Engineering programme at Åbo Akademi University. We offer BSc-level courses in Swedish and MSc- and PhD-level courses in English, connecting fundamental scientific principles with current research and industrial applications.

The laboratory also offers opportunities for student research projects, theses, and summer internships, providing hands-on experience in natural materials technology.

Research personnel

Teachers

Jan Gustafsson, Senior University Lecturer, Fibre and Cellulose Technology
Research profile and publications

Mari Nurmi, Senior University Lecturer, Paper Coating and Converting
Research profile and publications

Anna Sundberg, Senior University Lecturer, Wood and Paper Chemistry
Research profile and publications

Martti Toivakka, Professor, Paper Coating and Converting, Head of Subject
Research profile and publications

Chunlin Xu, Professor, Fiber and Biopolymer Chemistry
Research profile and publications

 

Researchers and Doctoral Students

Kristiina Ahonen, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Donya Arjmandi, Doctoral Student
Reseach profile and publications

Marie Alopaeus, Doctoral Student, Project Assistant
Research profile and publications

Oskar Backman, Research Assistant
Research profile and publications

Julia Chrzastowska, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Wangfang Deng, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Valter Georgs, Doctoral Student
Reseach profile and publications

Sai Hu, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Larissa Kessler, Project Researcher
Research profile and publications

Jani Kniivilä, Research Assistant
Research profile and publications

Ekaterina Korotkova, Laboratory Technician, Coordinator for Analytical Services
Research profile and publications

Minette Kvikant, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Esmeralda Laurén, doktorand
Research profile and publications

Watti Lehtimäki, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Yongzheng Li, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Zhiqiang Li, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Zhongqi Liu, Project Researcher
Research profile and publications

Zonghong Lu, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Matilda Martin, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Veronica Matamala, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Andre Mazega Fontes, Project Researcher
Research profile and publications

Adil Mehmood, Doctoral Student
Research Profile and publications

Tapani Nick, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Qi Nie, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Dumindu Peththa Wadu, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Andrey Pranovich, Researcher
Research profile and publications

Nizam Puthiyaveettil Azeez, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Jonatan Rönnholm, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Tim Salomäki, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Andreas Schröder, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Ellen Sundström, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Dmitry Tarasov, Project Researcher
Research profile and publications

Xiaoju Wang, Academy Research Fellow (jointly affiliated 80% with Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Research profile and publications

Ruijie Wu, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

Jiayun Xu, Doctoral Student
Research profile and publications

HoYoung Yoon, Project Researcher
Research profile and publications

Hao Zhang, Project Researcher
Research profile and publications

Yidong Zhang, Project Researcher
Research profile and publications

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Contact information:

Visiting address:

Henrikinkatu 2, Aurum 4^th Floor

Postal address:

Åbo Akademi University
Laboratory of Natural Materials Technology
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Henrikinkatu 2
FI-20500 Turku

Phone: +358-2-215 31 (operator)

Email: forename.lastname@abo.fi or NMT@abo.fi